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Software update for Multimatic 200

I saw a website reviewing multimatic, and he was talking about software update. Something about inserting chip into welder and reloading software, that supposedly improved welding characteristics. But he didn't provide too much details.

From memory, I vaguely remember it changed some of the stick welder settings. There were some complaints about 6010 being a little hard to keep going on the autoset. Again, really vague memories.

Not sure if its worth the $30.

When I got the message last year, I talked to the LWS and they didn't know anything about it. Then again, they don't stock the 200 and they don't even carry the small Q-gun parts (special order everything). They told me to call back when so-and-so was back from lunch. It wasn't that important to me at the time.

Call miller and ask them if you really need it.
I have one problem with this part. I tried to look up the price and miller said no such part. looked in obsolete parts and same thing. Looked for an FMI sheet. No instruction sheet published for the multimatic 200. I now wounder where that packet came from.???????

Call miller and ask them if you really need it.
I have one problem with this part. I tried to look up the price and miller said no such part. looked in obsolete parts and same thing. Looked for an FMI sheet. No instruction sheet published for the multimatic 200. I now wounder where that packet came from.???????

I of course google that part number and came up blank. (well, on welders...)

Found it!

Thanks for the help.

So I went back to the LWS and caught them at a slow time. The counter guy called Miller and was redirected to Miller's service department.
There was a software update for welders produced before Sept 2012. It was unclear what is included on the update. They way Miller is handling it, they are sending out to the LWS a "thumb drive" and instructions (including an errata). I'm supposed to plug it into the 200 (I'll have to figure out where) and it should install itself. Ultimately I need to mail the "thumb drive" back to Miller.

The LWS is going to let me take the thumb drive home so I will be able to do an A vs B comparison. I'll probably keep the 200 in my truck just in case they change their mind on letting me take it home. One counter guy doesn't necessarily speak for the whole company - although as I left he was leaving a detailed note.

Just an update.

The software upgrade came in on Monday (at least that is when the LWS called me). I was told I would get a 'hard drive" + instructions + errata. The hard drive looks very much like a big SD card but it has different connectors - looks very much proprietary. There was a resonably decent instruction sheet... Turn on machine, insert card wait while it uploads to the two circuit boards. It did show up as version 1.5. Less than a minute to upgrade.

I was told that the upgrade would be for lift-arc TIG and stick and not affect MIG. As far as I can tell, MIG is still the same (which is good). On stick, this is the first time I tried using the machine as a stick welder.

So to baseline before the upgrade:
Set up the machine (easy enough - disconnect MIG power and plug in stinger). Machine recognized that I no longer have the MIG gun connected. Dialed in 70xx 3/16 rod on a 3/16 piece of steel - actual rod was a Lincoln 7018 3/32. The machine set the current at 105Amps and displayed OCV as 90V. Very difficult to get the arc started. Tapping, scraping, nothing. Adjust clamps check connections... nothing. Finally got a spark. 105 was running a bit hot. The material was closer to 1/8 than 3/16. Felt like I was going to burn through. Felt rushed.

THEN I did the software upgrade.

Next pass. Much much easier to start. Yeah, I know the metal was still hot/warm from previous pass. But it still felt a lot easier. Still said 105 Amps, still said 90V OCV.

Switched to a 6013 rod (I have tones of that crap). Hmmm, still says 105 Amps on the screen - I'm not stick expert but I have the tube marked with a sharpie as 60-80 Amps.... maybe I have been running the 6013 too light?
The 6013 light up easy... real easy and with a little manipulation it looks pretty good (probably wagon tracks - but I can't find my chipping hammer brush - did I mention its been a while since I've used stick?...). So the 7018 looks a bit rough, the 6013 looks smoother (but not as caterpillery as i always thought 6013 was....) Well, then I look at the screen and see that I must have bumped the button one extra an it re-selected 70xx... well that makes sense. OK, now dialing for 60xx, 3/32 on 1/8" it dials in 60 Amps with 90 V OCV. Now back to that ropey 6013 that I know and love (sarcasm - I don't like how 6013 runs at all).
Strange how the OCV didn't change between 60xx and 70xx.

The 7018 felt too hot. Even slight manipulation it looked like a deep weld and I felt I was going to slow/on the edge of burn through. It didn't and the back side of the steel looked like nothing made it through. All in all pretty smooth though. The actual bead itself wasn't too bad for being out of practice. Couple of the rings looke triangular which I attribute to feeling that I need to pick up speed.

Best I can tell, the software upgrade helped the 7018 starts. Not much else. On the other hand, it seemed the machine was not even usable with 70xx rods before the upgrade. Software upgrade was 100% free of charge.

I'm supposed to return the 'drive' when I'm done (Friday if I remember to put it in the car).